Category Archives: 2015 Layoff

If you have completed a preferential hiring form and are interested in applying for craft positions at United Taconite or Hibbing Taconite, please apply for those positions on the Cliffs Natural Resources website.

A representative from the Minnesota mines will be at NMU on Friday, September 2, 2016 administering craft written testing for those employees who qualify. If you would like to be considered for this local test date, please apply by 5:00 PM on Thursday, September 1, 2016. The United Taconite or Hibbing Taconite Human Resources Department will contact you directly for testing if you qualify. Employees can still apply after this date but you may need to travel for testing.

The following positions are listed on the Cliffs website:

United Taconite LLC:

Maintenance Mechanic Journeyman (Plant Repairperson)

Weldor Journeyman

Electronic Technician Journeyman (performs work of Electronic Repairman and Field Electrician)

Since 2011, under Republican Gov. Rick Snyder, the state has spent tens of millions of dollars to slowly implement a computer software program that handles applications filed with the UIA. The effort to curb waste is consistent with a vision posed by Snyder of operating government with a business-minded attitude.

The program — called MiDAS — detects possible fraud by claimants.

The problem, says Blanchard, who represents several plaintiffs in a recently filed federal lawsuit that challenges the UIA’s alleged “robo-adjudication” system, is that apparent lack of human oversight. MiDAS seeks out discrepancies in claimants’ files, according to the lawsuit — and if it finds one, the individuals automatically receive a financial penalty. Then, they’re flagged for fraud.

“The system has resulted in countless unemployment insurance claimants being accused of fraud even though they did nothing wrong,” the suit says.

Hardest Hit Funds (HHF) are provided by the U.S. Department of the Treasury through the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA) or Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) to states that have been particularly hard hit by the economic and housing market downturn that began in 2007. The Hardest Hit Fund loan program was created in 2010 to assist states with their foreclosure prevention and neighborhood stabilization efforts. Michigan has received over $761 million to operate its Hardest Hit Fund programs.